1998 GMC Suburban Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems — premature front pad and rotor wear, and ABS that pumps or grabs as the vehicle comes to a stop. A second cluster covers windshield wiper motors that quit intermittently, along with transmission shifting complaints and battery acid leaking onto the passenger-side brake line. Reports span a wide mileage range, from low-mileage brake and tire issues to transmission and brake repairs past 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers quit intermittently in rain

   • 13 complaints (13%)
   • median 104,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2005

   Complaints describe wipers that stop mid-swipe or work for only a short time after startup and then fail for the rest of the drive, sometimes along with the washer pump. Several owners note that a wiper motor recall covered earlier model years but not this one, and that the design appears similar. Dealers told owners there was no recall for their vehicle, and in most cases the cause was not confirmed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 50,000 to 115,000 miles, and typically noticed during rain at highway speed.

   What to check: Run the wipers and washer for several minutes with the engine on and watch for stalling or slowing; ask whether the wiper motor or pulse board has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wiper motor/electrical problem on my 1998 Gmc Suburban. Gmc has had to recall earlier models, and I have the same problem on my 1998. Why was it not also recalled?”

   NHTSA complaint #10016909, filed 2003-05

   “Windshield wipers work intermittently. When they do not work, the wipers and the windshield fluid motor don't work at all. There is a recall for this exact same problem for Suburban 1994-1997. Normally they will work when you first start the car, but then go out after about 10 minutes, and fail to work the rest of the day.”

   NHTSA complaint #10031024, filed 2003-08
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   4L60E transmission hard shifting or gear loss

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2004

   Owners describe a pronounced bump when shifting from first to second and second to third, sometimes with the check engine light on, and a few report sudden loss of reverse, second, and fourth gears. Some complaints state that a mechanic or dealer identified a known internal failure of the sun gear reaction shell and pointed to a GM service bulletin for the shift concern. Repairs ranged from a rebuild to replacement, and one owner reports the light and hard shifts returning after an earlier repair. Most reports fall between roughly 90,000 and 100,000 miles, though some describe symptoms starting earlier in ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at low speed and feel for a harsh 1-2 and 2-3 upshift, confirm reverse and overdrive engage, and ask for transmission service or rebuild records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Gmc Suburban transmission problems. Our vehicle was special ordered from gmac in 1997. The issues in our transmission started late last summer, 2002. There is a very noticeable bump when starting from a standstill and going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gears. As stated in other complaints this is our family vehicle transporting or 3 small children.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018538, filed 2003-05, 92,000 miles

   “The transmission on my 1998 Gmc surburban failed. I was told by the dealer and another transmission specialist that this particular problem has been common to the 1997-98 Gmc and chevrolet surburbans, tahoes and comparable vehicles. It is not fair to consumers for an auto maker to know about severe problems like this with vehicles and not issue a recall or correct the problem. Of the 86 complaints listed on your website for this model, 7 involved and others involved the drivetrain which can be an associated problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10038710, filed 2003-09, 99,400 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Front brake pads and rotors wear or rust out early

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 50,446 mi at 6.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2004

   Complaints describe front brake pads wearing out well before expected, with one owner reporting pads gone by about 15,000 miles and another finding a pad fully worn down while the opposite side still had material. Several describe front rotors rusting or separating at the joint between the cast friction surface and the stamped hub that carries the lug holes, and one reports a rotor separating from the hub. Dealers replaced discs and pads in at least one case outside warranty as a goodwill gesture, and another owner says the dealer declined coverage because the vehicle was out of warranty. Reported from very low mileage (one at 12,500 miles) up through about 110,000 miles, with several complaints filed within the first few years of ownership.

   Recall 98V033000

   What to check: Inspect the front rotors for rust at the seam between the friction surface and the hub, and ask for service records showing when pads and rotors were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While applying the brake pedal the brakes failed. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. Consumer inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rotors needed to be replaced due to corrosion. This information was provided helen's boy friend erick wunk. Front passenger brake rotor separated from lug bolt hub. Drivers side rotter also ready to separate. Gmc recalled this part but not for the serial number of the consumers vehicle. Consumer replaced parts at his own expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10081763, filed 2004-09, 12,500 miles

   “Rotors on 4wd sububan rusted out at the weld between the cast rim and the stamped steel interwheel. The stamped part has the lug holes, the cast rim is the what the brake pads grip.”

   NHTSA complaint #10069595, filed 2004-01, 88,393 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS pumps or grabs at low speed

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2006

   Owners describe the brake pedal buzzing, pulsing, or requiring noticeably more pressure as the vehicle slows to a stop, most often below roughly 10 mph. Some say the ABS engages every time they pull into a parking space, and a few report the vehicle sliding rather than stopping on slippery surfaces. Several complaints note that a recall covering anti-lock brakes on other GM vehicles did not include their vehicle, and one dealer diagnosed a front hub and bearing or ABS sensors as the cause. Typically reported between about 50,000 and 113,000 miles, and always at low speed during stopping or parking maneuvers.

   What to check: Test the brakes at walking pace in a parking lot and feel for pedal pulsing or grabbing; ask whether the front hubs, bearings, and ABS sensors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Several times when I or my husband have hit the brakes, they lock and instead of stopping the car, it continues to slide. I reported this to the technician at silveira pontiac after the first accident in 1998. He told me that was the nature of ABS brakes, I had a van before my Suburban thjat had ABS brakes and I /we never experienced this problem. In feb. …”

   NHTSA complaint #709865, filed 1999-08

   “The brake pedal buzzes and requires significant additional pedal pressure after the brakes are applied and the vehicle reaches slow speed. The problem is most likely the anti-lock braking system activating as the vehicle comes to a stop. This problem presents a safety hazard because the vehicle requres additional distance to stop. Of special concern is the danger to pedestrians, parking attendants and others who are likely to enter, or already be in, the vehicle's path as it comes to a stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10026086, filed 2003-07, 55,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery acid leaking onto brake line

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 68,100 mi at 5.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2003

   Complaints describe acid residue or leakage from around the positive battery terminal running down onto the front passenger-side brake tubing and nearby wiring, with visible corrosion on those parts. Some owners report the positive post separating from the battery case, and a few link the corrosion to a spongy or failing brake pedal. Dealers replaced the battery in some cases but only cleaned the corroded components. Reported from the first few years of ownership up to about 68,000 miles, with several owners noting repeat battery failures.

   What to check: Look under the battery tray and along the passenger-side brake line for white or green corrosion, and check the battery hold-down and terminal posts for looseness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The positive battery terminal post broke loose from the battery, spilling battery acid on the brake tubing. Discussed battery failure with GM and they refused to replace battery due to the fact the vehicle was out of warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10016514, filed 2003-04, 68,100 miles

   “Battery is leaking acid from around the positive terminal down to the brake line at the front passenger's side, in the area of the front tire. Consumer feels it may eat a hole though brake line, and cause the brakes not to work properly. Dealer replaced battery, but only cleaned the other parts affected by the leaking battery acid, even though there are signs of corrosion on these parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #856174, filed 2000-02

Buying note. Check the brakes carefully at low speed and inspect rotors for rust or separation, since brake complaints are the most common in this sample. Also test the wipers at length, feel for harsh transmission upshifts, and look for battery acid corrosion along the passenger-side brake line.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.